Stephen King Reveals His Favorite Classic Rock Songs

Stephen King may be known for writing horror novels that keep readers up at night, but he also has a deep love for rock music—especially the kind that hits hard and sticks with you. Ever since his very first novel, Carrie, hit shelves in 1974, King’s writing has been filled with music references. That book alone name-drops Bob Dylan multiple times.

He wrote:

“Elsewhere in this book is made of a page in one of Carrie White’s school notebooks where a line from a famous rock poet of the ’60s, Bob Dylan, was written repeatedly, as if in desperation.”

The lyric he referenced? A line from Dylan’s “Just Like a Woman”: “Nobody has to guess that a baby can’t be blessed / ‘Til she finally sees that she’s like all the rest.”

Let’s take a look at 13 of Stephen King’s favorite rock songs, spanning classic rock, punk, blues, and even metal.

Born to Rock: From AC/DC to Springsteen

1 “Stiff Upper Lip” – AC/DC
King’s admiration for AC/DC runs deep. In 2015, on BBC Radio 6’s Paperback Writers, he called them “the best rock and blues band of all time.” He even quoted the song’s title in the preface to his short-story collection The Bazaar of Bad Dreams, saying:

“I shoot from the hip and keep a stiff upper lip.”

2 “Ramrod” – Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen’s raw storytelling really resonates with King. “I respect him as a songwriter and the insight in his songs,” he said in 2014. His top Springsteen pick is “Ramrod” from The River:
“It’s just straight-ahead rock and roll. I think it’s what Bruce Springsteen does best. It’s just guitar-driven, balls-to-the-wall rock,” he said. He also once praised “Maria’s Bed” as the perfect anthem for “Oh God, tonight I’m gonna get lucky.”

Classic Rebels: Stones, Pistols, and CCR

3 “Anarchy in the U.K.” – Sex Pistols
Of course, the king of horror loves punk. He listed this anthem during the BBC session, too. And if that wasn’t enough, he once posed for a photo with Rancid backstage in 2021—very on brand.

4 “Dance Little Sister” – The Rolling Stones
When asked the old “Beatles or Stones?” question, King had a clear answer: Stones. His chosen track? “Dance Little Sister” from It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll. But don’t worry—he gets to the Beatles too.

5 “It Came Out of the Sky” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
When asked on Reddit to name his favorite act of all time, King replied, “Probably Creedence Clearwater Revival.” He included this song on his BBC list but has also used CCR lyrics—like “Bad Moon Rising”—in his novels, most notably The Shining.

Personal Picks with Personal Stories

6 “Pink Houses” – John Mellencamp
King once co-wrote a musical with Mellencamp called Ghost Brothers of Darkland County. About working with him, King said,

“One of the reasons I said yes is because I respect him as a musician and as somebody who’s not content to do just a certain kind of pop music.”

7 “She Loves You” – The Beatles
King thinks this Beatles tune has aged better than most:

“Of all the Beatles songs, it seems to me that it’s travelled the best over the years to my ear. It still sounds totally fresh. It has only one thing to say, and it says it.”

Lyrical Legends and Deep Cuts

8 “Desolation Row” – Bob Dylan
King has loved Dylan since his teenage years and even saw him live during the Rolling Thunder Revue tour. He told Rolling Stone in 2016:

“My kids listen to Dylan, and so do my grandkids. That’s real longevity and quality. Most people in pop music are like moths around a bug light—not Dylan.”

9 “Middle of the Road” – The Pretenders
This Pretenders track made his BBC list too. With several of King’s books centered around roads and travel, the connection here might be symbolic.

10 “The Bug” – Dire Straits
King once called this tune “a philosophy lesson in four minutes: sometimes you’re the windshield / sometimes you’re the bug,” highlighting Mark Knopfler’s snappy—and often amusing—guitar licks.

11 “Diamonds and Rust” – Judas Priest
King has a soft spot for heavy metal. In 2016, he posted:

“I believe I’ll have a Heavy Metal Weekend starting with Slayer, Sabbath, and Motörhead, saving Metallica & Priest for Sunday.”

He also asked a reporter in 2011 if they’d heard his favorite Priest track: the band’s cover of Joan Baez’s “Diamonds and Rust.”

12 “California Stars” – Billy Bragg & Wilco
King confessed he was a Wilco skeptic—until he heard this track.

“Bragg is the album’s terrific featured artist, but this song is all about Jeff Tweedy’s sweet, slightly weary vocal.”

13 “I Summon You” – Spoon
This one left a lasting impression on King. As he recalled:

“I played this one over and over in 2005. I never understood it, never got tired of it. We should all have someone to summon us once in a while, I guess.”